Display module and display device

ABSTRACT

A display module and a display device which can improve a heat-dissipation performance and a shock absorption function while reducing a bezel area, and in particular, reduce an impact applied to an edge of a cushion plate, and reduce deterioration in the shock absorption function due to moisture. A chamfer is formed along an edge of a metal foam included in the cushion plate to implement the improvement. Thus, a spacing between the edge of the cushion plate and a frame is maximized such that the impact applied to the edge of the cushion plate can be reduced as much as possible. Further, a rear face of a body and a chamfer of the metal foam can be covered with a water-proof layer, such that moisture invasion into the cushion plate can be reduced as much as possible.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims a benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2020-0183760 filed on Dec. 24, 2020, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display module and a display device,and more specifically, a display module and a display device capable ofimproving heat-dissipation performance and shock absorption functionwhile reducing a bezel area.

Description of the Related Art

A display device is implemented in a wide variety of forms as intelevisions, monitors, smart phones, tablet PCs, notebook computers, andwearable devices.

In general, the display device includes a display area displaying aimage and a non-display area along an outer periphery of the displayarea.

The display device includes various additional components such as adriving integrated circuit or a circuit board in addition to a displaypanel to display the screen.

In the non-display area, the additional components can be disposed, orvarious connection parts such as a flexible circuit board for connectingthe additional components to each other can be disposed.

In the display device, the non-display area is also referred to a bezelarea. When the bezel area is thick, a user's gaze is wide. However, whenthe bezel area is thinner, the user's gaze is fixed on the screen of thedisplay area such that user immersion increases.

In other words, when the bezel area becomes thinner, an entire size ofthe display device can be reduced while increasing the user immersion.Accordingly, demand from the user for the display device that can reducethe bezel area as much as possible is increasing.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In the display device, not only a pad of the display panel but alsovarious additional components such as the driving integrated circuit andthe circuit board can be disposed on a rear face (or a rear surface) ofthe display panel in order to secure the display area as large aspossible and to ensure the minimum bezel area.

In this case, the various additional components can be mounted on orconnected to a connection component such as a flexible circuit board andcan be disposed on the rear face of the display panel.

For example, the flexible circuit board connected to one distal end ofthe display panel can be bent in a direction from the bezel area to therear face of the display panel.

Alternatively, as one distal end of the display panel is bent toward therear face of the display panel, the various additional components can bedisposed on the rear face of the display panel.

In this case, when a radius of curvature of the bending distal endincreases, the flexible circuit board or display panel can be bent morestably and easily. However, as the bending radius of curvatureincreases, the bezel area increases, and a total width of the displaydevice increases.

A cushion plate for heat-dissipation and shock absorption can bedisposed on the rear face of the display panel.

In one example, the cushion plate has a laminated structure in which aplurality of layers having various functions such as a heat-dissipationlayer having a heat-dissipation function, a cushion layer capable ofabsorbing shock, an adhesive layer for bonding the heat-dissipationlayer and the cushion layer to each other, etc., are laminated one ontop of another.

In this case, when a thickness of each of the heat-dissipation layer andthe cushion layer is as thick as possible, the heat-dissipation functionand shock absorption function can increase. However, as the thicknessthereof increases, a total thickness of the display device increases,resulting in an increase in the bezel area.

Otherwise, when the thickness of each of the heat-dissipation layer andthe cushion layer is thin to reduce the total thickness of the displaydevice, the heat-dissipation function and the shock absorbing functioncan decrease.

Further, the heat-dissipation layer and cushion layer having differentfunctions can be formed of different materials suitable for thefunctions thereof. In this connection, interlayer separation or adhesiondeterioration between the various layers formed of different materialscan occur.

In particular, in order to fix or connect each layer, a separateadhesive layer must be added between the layers. This can lead to anincrease in a thickness, and a limitation in selection of a type of theadhesive layer depending on a material to be bonded and an increase in acost of the device.

Further, because the cushion plate is formed in a multi-layeredstructure, change in a shape of the cushion plate can be limited.

Moreover, a sudden impact is applied to the display device. In thisconnection, because an edge portion (or a periphery portion) isgenerally most vulnerable to the impact, considerable damage can occurat the edge portion (or a periphery portion) of the display device.

The cushion plate disposed on the rear face of the display panel can bedisposed close to a frame that houses the display module. In particular,an edge portion of the cushion plate can be disposed very close to anedge portion (or a periphery portion) of the frame.

Therefore, when the sudden impact is applied to the edge portion of thedisplay device, the impact can be directly transmitted to the edgeportion of the cushion plate, and then, the impact can be transmitted tothe display panel.

Even though the cushion plate has the shock absorbing function, theshock absorbing function of the cushion plate may not work effectivelywhen the sudden shock is applied through the edge (or the periphery)that is vulnerable to the shock.

Further, when moisture invades into the cushion plate, the shockabsorbing function of the cushion plate can be deteriorated.

For example, when the display device is used in a very humid environmentor falls into water, moisture can invade into an interior of the displaydevice. In this case, when the moisture invades into the cushion layerof the cushion plate, the shock absorption function thereof can begreatly degraded.

Accordingly, the inventors of the present disclosure have invented adisplay module and a display device which can improve a heat-dissipationperformance and a shock absorption function while reducing the bezelarea, and in particular, reduce the impact applied to the edge of thecushion plate, and reduce the deterioration in the shock absorptionfunction due to the moisture.

A purpose to be achieved according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is to provide a display module and a display device capableof reducing an impact applied to an edge (or a periphery) of a cushionplate.

A purpose to be achieved according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is to provide a display module and a display device capableof reducing moisture invasion into a cushion plate.

A purpose to be achieved according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is to provide a display module and a display device capableof improving a heat-dissipation performance and a shock absorptionfunction while reducing the bezel area.

A purpose to be achieved according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is to provide a display module and a display device capableof minimizing interlayer separation or adhesion deterioration betweenlayers constituting a cushion plate.

A purpose to be achieved according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is to provide a display module and a display device includinga cushion plate have a higher freedom in a shape change thereof.

Purposes to be achieved according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure are not limited to the purpose as mentioned above. Otherpurposes that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by thoseskilled in the art based on following descriptions.

A display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosureincludes a cover member, a display panel disposed on a rear face (or arear surface) of the cover member, and a cushion plate disposed on arear face (or a rear surface) of the display panel and including a metalfoam and a water-proof layer.

In this case, the metal foam includes a body and a chamfer along an edge(or a periphery) of the body, and the water-proof layer is disposed on arear face (or a rear surface) of the metal foam, and covers a rear face(or a rear surface) of the body, and the chamfer.

The chamfer is disposed on the rear face of the body, and is formed byremoving at least a portion of a rear face (or a rear surface) and atleast a portion of a side face (or a side surface) of the metal foam.

The chamfer includes at least one of an inclined face (or an inclinedsurface), a right angled face (or a right angled surface), and a curvedface (or a curved surface), and extends along an entire perimeter of thebody.

The water-proof layer includes an organic material, and the water-prooflayer additionally covers a side face of the body.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosureincludes a cover member, a display module according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure coupled to a rear face (or a rear surface) of thecover member, and a frame disposed on a rear face (or a rear surface) ofthe display module to support the cover member.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the chamfer can be formedalong the edge (or the periphery) of the metal foam included in thecushion plate, such that a spacing between an edge (or a periphery) ofthe cushion plate and the frame can be maximized, and thus the impactapplied to the edge of the cushion plate can be reduced as much aspossible.

Further, in accordance with the present disclosure, the water-prooflayer can cover the rear face (or the rear surface) of the body of themetal foam included in the cushion plate, and the chamfer thereof,thereby minimizing a moisture invading path and thus reducing moistureinvasion into the cushion plate as much as possible.

In particular, because the chamfer is formed by removing at least aportion of the rear face (or the rear surface) as well as at least aportion of the side face (or the side surface) of the metal foam, thewater-proof layer can cover the side face (or the side surface) of themetal foam, thereby more effectively reducing the moisture invasion intothe side face (or the side surface) of the cushion plate.

Further, the cushion plate according to the present disclosure includesthe metal foam having both a heat-dissipation function and a cushionfunction. Thus, the cushion plate can have an effective heat-dissipationfunction and an effective cushion function at the same time only usingthe metal foam without a separate heat-dissipation layer or a separatecushion layer.

In particular, the metal foam has a very good heat-dissipation functionand a very good cushioning function even when the metal foam is thin.Thus, a total thickness of the cushion plate can be greatly reduced,such that the bezel area can be reduced.

Further, the cushion plate according to the present disclosure canrealize both the heat-dissipation function and the cushion function onlyusing the metal foam. Thus, it is not necessary to stack separate layersformed of different materials having a heat-dissipation function and acushion function, respectively, thereby minimizing the interlayerseparation or adhesion deterioration.

In addition, because there is no need to add a separate adhesive layerconfigured to fix or connect each of layers, an increase in thicknessdue to the adhesive layer or an increase in a manufacturing cost of thedisplay device due to the addition of various layers may not occur.

Further, because the cushion plate according to the present disclosureincludes the metal foam having a higher freedom in the change shape, theshape of the cushion plate can be freely and easily changed in responseto a design change of the display module.

Effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentionedeffects, and other effects as not mentioned will be clearly understoodby those skilled in the art from following descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B respectively show a front face and a rear face of adisplay device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along an I-I′ direction of adisplay module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are enlarged cross-sectional views when an externalforce is applied to edges (or peripheries) of display device accordingto Comparative Example, and an embodiment of the present disclosure,respectively.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cushion plate according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are cross-sectional views of cushion plates according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views of metal foams according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are cross-sectional views showing waterproofingeffects of cushion plates according to Comparative Example, and anembodiment of the present disclosure, respectively.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are SEM photographs of cross sections of cushionplates according to Comparative Example, and an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, respectively.

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are SEM photographs showing moisture invasion intocushion plates according to Comparative Example, and an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, respectively.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are comparative cross-sectional views of laminatedstructures of cushion plates according to Comparative Example, and anembodiment of the present disclosure, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and a method ofachieving the Advantages and features will become apparent withreference to embodiments described later in detail together with theaccompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited tothe embodiments as disclosed below, but can be implemented in variousdifferent forms. Thus, these embodiments are set forth only to make thepresent disclosure complete, and to completely inform the scope of thedisclosure to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to whichthe present disclosure belongs.

A shape, a size, a ratio, an angle, a number, etc., disclosed in thedrawings for describing the embodiments of the present disclosure areexemplary, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The samereference numerals refer to the same elements herein. Further,descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omittedfor simplicity of the description. Furthermore, in the followingdetailed description of the present disclosure, numerous specificdetails are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe present disclosure. However, it will be understood that the presentdisclosure can be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intendedto include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers,operations, elements, components, and/or portions thereof. As usedherein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items. Expression such as “at least oneof” when preceding a list of elements can modify the entire list ofelements and may not modify the individual elements of the list. Ininterpretation of numerical values, an error or tolerance therein canoccur even when there is no explicit description thereof.

In addition, it will also be understood that when a first element orlayer is referred to as being present “on” a second element or layer,the first element can be disposed directly on the second element or canbe disposed indirectly on the second element with a third element orlayer being disposed between the first and second elements or layers. Itwill be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can bedirectly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, orone or more intervening elements or layers can be present. In addition,it will also be understood that when an element or layer is referred toas being “between” two elements or layers, it can be the only element orlayer between the two elements or layers, or one or more interveningelements or layers can also be present.

In descriptions of temporal relationships, for example, temporalprecedent relationships between two events such as “after,” “subsequentto,” “before,” etc., another event can occur therebetween unless“directly after,” “directly subsequent” or “directly before” is notindicated.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,”“third,” and so on can be used herein to describe various elements,components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms.These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer or section from another element, component, region, layer orsection. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or sectiondescribed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer or section, without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

The features of the various embodiments of the present disclosure can bepartially or entirely combined with each other, and can be technicallyassociated with each other or operate with each other. The embodimentscan be implemented independently of each other and can be implementedtogether in an association relationship.

Hereinafter, various configurations of a display module and a displaydevice that can improve a heat-dissipation performance and a shockabsorption function while reducing a bezel area, and in particular, canreduce an impact applied to an edge (or a periphery) of a cushion plateand reduce deterioration of the shock absorbing function due to moisturewill be described in detail.

FIG. 1A briefly shows a front face (or a front surface) of a displaydevice 1 on which an image is displayed, and FIG. 1B briefly shows arear face (or a rear surface) of display device 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along an I-I′ direction of adisplay module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The display device 1 includes a cover member 20, a display module 10coupled to a rear face (or a rear surface) of cover member 20, and aframe 30 disposed on a rear face (or a rear surface) of display module10 to support the cover member 20.

The display module 10 can include a display panel 100 and includevarious layers such as a functional film 120, a back plate 110, and acushion plate 200, and can be bonded or attached to the cover member 20via a module fixing member (or a connection member) 130.

The cover member 20 can be disposed to cover a front face (or a frontsurface) of the display module 10, and thus can protect the displaymodule 10 from external shocks.

An edge (or a periphery) of the cover member 20 can have a round shapein which the edge thereof is curved toward a rear face (or a rearsurface) thereof on which the display module 10 is disposed.

The display device 1 displays an image through a front face (or a frontsurface) of the cover member 20, and is configured such that anon-display area NAA is formed around a display area AA.

In other words, the front face (or the front surface) of the covermember 20 can be divided into the display area AA and the non-displayarea NAA as an area other than the display area AA. The non-display areaNAA can be formed along an edge (or a periphery) of the display area AA,and the non-display area NAA can be defined as a bezel area BZA.

The cover member 20 includes the display area AA that displays a screen,and thus can be formed of a transparent material such as a cover glassto display the screen. For example, the cover member 20 can be formed ofa transparent plastic material, a glass material, or a reinforced glassmaterial.

The frame 30 can be disposed on the rear face (or the rear surface) ofdisplay module 10 and therein accommodate the display module 10 andcontact the cover member 20 to support the cover member 20.

The frame 30 serves as a housing that defines a rear face (or a rearsurface) of the display device 1, and can be formed of various materialssuch as plastic, metal, or glass.

In this case, the frame 30 can function as a casing defining anoutermost portion of display device 1. However, the present disclosureis not limited thereto.

For example, the frame 30 can function as a middle frame that serves asa housing that protects the rear face (or the rear surface) of displaymodule 10, and there can be an additional casing on the rear face (orthe rear surface) of the frame 30.

Hereinafter, the display device 1 and the display module 10 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detailwith reference to FIG. 2 .

The display module 10 includes the display panel 100 disposed on therear face (or a rear surface) of cover member 20.

The display module 10 can be defined as including the display panel 100attached to the rear face (or the rear surface) of cover member 20, andadditional components related to the display panel 100 except the covermember 20 in a narrow sense. The display module 10 can be defined asincluding the cover member 20 in a broad sense.

The display module 10 can additionally include various layers such asthe functional film 120, the back plate 110, and the cushion plate 200.

The display module 10 can be bonded or attached to the cover member 20via the module fixing member (or a connection member) 130.

First, specifically, the module fixing member 130 that fixes or connectsthe display panel 100 to the cover member 20 is disposed on the rearface (or the rear surface) of the cover member 20.

Since the module fixing member 130 can be disposed to overlap thedisplay area AA, the module fixing member 130 can be embodied as atransparent adhesive member. For example, the module fixing member 130can be formed of or include a material such as OCA (Optical ClearAdhesive), OCR (Optical Clear Resin), or PSA (Pressure SensitiveAdhesive).

The functional film 120 can be additionally disposed between the modulefixing member 130 and the display panel 100. The functional film 120 canhave a structure in which one or more functional layers are stacked oneon top of another, but is not particularly limited.

In one example, the functional film 120 can include an antireflectionlayer such as a polarizing film that prevents reflection of externallight to improve an outdoor visibility and a contrast ratio for an imagedisplayed on the display panel 100.

In addition, in one example, the functional film 120 can further includea barrier layer for preventing moisture or oxygen invasion. The barrierlayer can be formed of a material having low moisture permeability, suchas a polymer material.

The display panel 100 can include a display substrate, a pixel arraydisposed on the display substrate, and an encapsulation portion disposedto cover the pixel array.

The display substrate can serve as a base substrate of the display panel100. The display substrate can be formed of a flexible plastic materialand thus can act as a flexible display substrate.

In one example, the display substrate can be formed of polyimide as aplastic material having flexibility, or can be formed of a thin-typeglass material having flexibility.

The pixel array can correspond to an area configured to display theimage toward the front face (or the front surface) of the cover member20, and thus can correspond to the display area AA.

Therefore, the area corresponding to the pixel array in the cover member20 can be the display area AA, and the area other than the display areaAA can be the bezel area.

The pixel array can be implemented using various elements that displayan image, and may not be particularly limited.

The pixel array can include a plurality of pixels that are arranged in apixel area defined by signal lines on the display substrate, and displayan image according to signals supplied to the signal lines. The signallines can include a gate line, a data line, and a pixel driving powerline.

Each of the plurality of pixels can include a thin film transistor inthe pixel area, an anode electrically connected to the thin filmtransistor, a light-emissive element layer formed on the anode, and acathode electrically connected to the light-emissive element layer.

The thin film transistor can include a gate electrode, a semiconductorlayer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and the like. Thesemiconductor layer of the thin film transistor can include silicon suchas a-Si, poly-Si, or low-temperature poly-Si, or an oxide such as IGZO(Indium-Gallium-Zinc-Oxide).

The anode can be disposed in each pixel in a corresponding manner to anopening area defined according to a pattern shape of a pixel, and can beelectrically connected to the thin film transistor.

In one example, the light-emissive element layer can include an organiclight-emissive element formed on the anode. The organic light-emissiveelement can be implemented to emit light of the same color such as whitelight across the pixels or can be implemented to emit light beams ofdifferent colors such as red, green, and blue light beams across thepixels.

In another example, the light-emissive element layer can include a microlight-emissive diode element electrically connected to each of the anodeand the cathode. The micro light-emissive diode element refers to alight-emissive diode implemented in a form of an integrated circuit (IC)or a chip, and can include a first terminal electrically connected tothe anode and a second terminal electrically connected to the cathode.

The cathode can be commonly connected to a light-emissive element of alight-emissive element layer disposed in each pixel area.

The encapsulation portion is formed on the display substrate to coverthe pixel array, such that oxygen, moisture, or foreign substances canbe prevented from invading into the light-emissive element layer of thepixel array. In one example, the encapsulation portion can be formed ina multilayer structure in which organic material layers and inorganicmaterial layers are alternately stacked one on top of another.

The back plate 110 can be disposed under the display panel 100.

The back plate 110 can be disposed under the display substrate tocomplement a rigidity of the display substrate, and can be formed tohave a certain strength and a certain thickness to complement therigidity of the display substrate.

The cushion plate 200 can be disposed under the back plate 110.

An embossed layer 230, a metal foam 220 and a water-proof layer 210 ofthe cushion plate 200 can be sequentially stacked vertically in adirection toward the rear face (or the rear surface) of the displaypanel 100.

Hereinafter, the cushion plate 200 will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D showing various embodiments of thecushion plate 200, and FIGS. 6A to 6D showing various embodiments of themetal foam 220, together with FIG. 4 showing a perspective view of thecushion plate 200 according to an embodiment.

The cushion plate 200 includes the embossed layer 230, the metal foam220 and the water-proof layer 210.

First, the embossed layer 230 can refer to a layer that directlycontacts the back plate 110 to fix or connect the cushion plate 200 tothe back plate 110, and thus can function as an adhesive layer includingan adhesive component.

The embossed layer 230 can be formed of or include a material such asOCA (Optical Clear Adhesive), OCR (Optical Clear Resin), or PSA(Pressure Sensitive Adhesive).

Specifically, the embossed layer 230 can include a base substrate 231,and a first adhesive layer 233 a and a second adhesive layer 233 bdisposed on both opposite faces (or both opposite surfaces) of the basesubstrate 231, respectively.

In this case, the second adhesive layer 233 b can contact the metal foam220 to bond (or attach) and fix (or connect) the metal foam 220 to theembossed layer 230.

The first adhesive layer 233 a of the embossed layer 230 can have aplurality of embossed patterns 233 e such as an uneven structure.

The first adhesive layer 233 a of the embossed layer 230 can act as aface (or a surface) in contact with the back plate 110. The firstadhesive layer 233 a has the embossed patterns 233 e, thereby preventingproduction of air bubbles between the back plate 110 and the cushionplate 200, such that a degassing process for removing air bubbles can beomitted.

The base substrate 231 of the embossed layer 230 can serve to hold ashape of the embossed layer 230, and can be formed of a material such asPET.

In order to have an effective anti-bubble effect, the embossed layer 230preferably has a thickness of at least 40 μm.

The metal foam 220 is disposed on one face (or one surface) of theembossed layer 230.

The metal foam 220 can refer to a porous metal structure including metalas a main component, and the metal foam 220 can have a multiple of pores225 therein.

That is, the metal foam 220 can refer to a porous metal structure havinga multiple of pores 225 therein.

The metal foam 220 can be formed using a following manufacturing methodby way of example. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto.

The metal foam 220 can be formed by sintering a metal foam precursorincluding metal powders.

The metal foam precursor refers to a structure before proceeding with aprocess performed to form the metal foam 220 such as the sinteringprocess.

For example, the metal foam precursor can be formed using a slurryincluding metal powders, dispersant, and binder.

The metal powder can be embodied as mixture metal powers or alloypowders between at least two among copper powder, nickel powder, ironpowder, SUS powder, molybdenum powder, silver powder, platinum powder,gold powder, aluminum powder, chromium powder, indium powder, tinpowder, magnesium powder, phosphorous powder, zinc powder, and manganesepowder. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In one example, alcohol can be used as the dispersant. However, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto.

In this case, the alcohol can include monohydric alcohol having 1 to 20carbon atoms such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, pentanol, octanol,ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, pentanol, 2-methoxyethanol,2-ethoxyethanol, 2-butoxyethanol, glycerol, texanol or terpineol, or adihydric alcohol having 1 to 20 carbon atoms such as ethylene glycol,propylene glycol, hexanediol, octanediol or pentanediol, or polyhydricalcohols other than dihydric alcohol. However, the present disclosure isnot limited thereto.

A type of the binder is not particularly limited and can beappropriately adjusted according to a type of a metal component or thedispersant used in preparation of the slurry.

For example, the binder can include an alkyl cellulose having an alkylgroup having 1 to 8 carbon atoms such as methyl cellulose or ethylcellulose, polyalkylene carbonate having an alkylene unit having 1 to 8carbon atoms such as polypropylene carbonate or polyethylene carbonate,or a polyvinyl alcohol-based binder such as polyvinyl alcohol orpolyvinyl acetate. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto.

After producing the slurry including the metal powder, the dispersant,and the binder as described above, the slurry can be injected into aframe having a predefined shape or coating (or forming) the slurry onthe substrate, thereby forming the metal foam precursor.

The metal foam precursor as thus formed can be changed into the metalfoam 220 via the sintering process.

In this case, a condition of the sintering process is not particularlylimited as long as the process proceeds at a temperature and for a timeduration to allow solvent included in the slurry to be removed at adesired amount.

In one example, the sintering temperature can be in a range of about 50°C. to 250° C. and the sintering time duration can be predefined.However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after forming themetal foam precursor on the embossed layer 230, the sintering processcan be performed to form the metal foam 220, thereby forming the cushionplate 200 including the embossed layer 230 and the metal foam 220.

Alternatively, after forming the metal foam 220 separately from theembossed layer 230, the embossed layer 230 and the metal foam 220 can bebonded or attached to each other, thereby forming the cushion plate 200including the embossed layer 230 and the metal foam 220. Thus, themanufacturing method of the cushion plate 200 is not particularlylimited.

In the cushion plate 200 including the embossed layer 230 and the metalfoam 220, the metal foam 220 as a metal structure having a multiple ofpores 225 therein can have a heat-dissipation function and a cushionfunction at the same time.

The metal foam 220 is formed of metal with a high thermal conductivity,such that the metal foam 220 itself exhibits excellent heat-dissipationfunction. Since the metal foam has the metal structure having a multipleof pores 225 therein, the metal foam can also realize excellentcushioning function.

In particular, because the metal foam 220 has a metal structure having amultiple of pores 225 therein, an overall surface area thereof canincrease, and thus, the metal foam 220 itself can realize the excellentheat-dissipation function.

Therefore, the cushion plate 200 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure has both of an effective heat-dissipation functionand an effective cushion functions at the same time using only the metalfoam 220 without having a heat-dissipation layer for a heat-dissipationfunction and a cushion layer for a cushion function as separate layers.

In this regard, referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, FIG. 10A showsComparative Example of a cushion plate 200 having a four-layerslaminated structure. FIG. 10B shows a cross-sectional view of a cushionplate 200 having a two-layers laminated structure including the metalfoam 220 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the cushion plate according to Comparative Examplehas a structure in which four layers are laminated by sequentiallystacking a cushion layer, a base layer, and a heat-dissipation layer onan embossed layer.

The embossed layer can include a base substrate formed of PET, and afirst adhesive layer PSA and a second adhesive layer PSA on bothopposing faces (or both opposing surfaces) of the base substrate,respectively, wherein the second adhesive layer can be embodied as anembossed adhesive layer Embo PSA.

In this case, the base substrate of the embossed layer can have athickness of about 12 μm, and each of the first adhesive layer and thesecond adhesive layer can have a thickness of about 24 μm.

A cushion layer as a foam pad can be formed on the embossed layer toimpart a cushion function to the cushion plate.

In this case, the cushion layer should have a thickness of at least 100μm in order to provide minimum effective cushioning function using onlythe foam pad.

The heat-dissipation layer is formed on the cushion layer, and the baselayer must be added between the cushion layer and the heat-dissipationlayer.

The heat-dissipation layer is directly bonded or attached to the cushionlayer. In this case, when the cushion plate is bent in a bent area ofthe display module 10 and then a time lapses, the cushion layer and theheat-dissipation layer formed of different materials from each other arenot completely adhered to each other, and are separated from each other.

Accordingly, the base layer can be added between the cushion layer andthe heat-dissipation layer to minimize the separation between thecushion layer and the heat-dissipation layer and to realize flexibilityin the bent area.

The base layer can be formed by disposing an adhesive layer PSA on aflexible base formed of polyimide (PI).

In this case, in order for the base layer to achieve minimum effectiveseparation-suppressing and support functions, the base formed of thepolyimide should have a thickness of at least 25 μm, and a thickness ofthe adhesive layer PSA included in the base layer should be at least 15μm.

The heat-dissipation layer is disposed on the base layer to impart aheat-dissipation function to the cushion plate.

The heat-dissipation layer can be formed by disposing an adhesive layerPSA on a metal layer formed of a material having good thermalconductivity such as copper.

In this case, in order for the heat-dissipation layer to achieve minimumeffective heat-dissipation function, the metal layer must have athickness of at least 18 μm, and a thickness of the adhesive layer PSAincluded in the heat-dissipation layer should be at least 12 μm.

In other words, the cushion plate according to Comparative Example canhave a structure in which the four layers are laminated, that is, thelayers having separate functions must be stacked one on top of anotherin order to provide both of the heat-dissipation function and thecushion function. Thus, the number of process steps can increase, thusleading to an increase in a manufacturing cost of the display device.

In particular, the layers having different functions are formed ofdifferent materials. Thus, additional adhesive layers must be disposedbetween the layers in order to bond or attach the layers to each other.Thus, a total thickness of the cushion plate can be further increased.

To the contrary, as shown in FIG. 10B, the cushion plate 200 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure can achieve both of aneffective heat-dissipation function and an effective cushion functiononly using a double-layer laminated structure in which the metal foam220 and the embossed layer 230 are stacked one on top of the other.

That is, because the cushion plate 200 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure can realize both the heat-dissipation function andthe cushion function using only the metal foam 220, there is no need tostack separate layers formed of different materials having aheat-dissipation function and a cushion function, respectively, so thatseparation between the layers, and adhesion deterioration therebetweencan be minimized.

In addition, there is no need to add a separate adhesive layerconfigured to fix or connect the layers to each other. Thus, theincrease in the manufacturing cost of the display device due to theincrease in the thickness due to the adhesive layer or the addition ofvarious layers may not occur.

In this case, a thickness of the metal foam 220 can be in a range of 20μm to 200 μm, and a thickness of the cushion plate 200 can be in a rangeof 80 μm to 260 μm.

In particular, even when the metal foam 220 of the cushion plate 200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a minimumthickness of 20 μm, the metal foam 220 can have both a heat-dissipationfunction and a cushion function. Thus, a total thickness of the cushionplate 200 can be reduced.

The minimum and maximum thicknesses of each of the metal foam 220 andthe cushion plate 200 can be appropriately adjusted according to a shapechange of the display module 10.

As described above, the cushion plate 200 according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure includes the metal foam 220 having a higherfreedom in the shape change. Thus, in response to the design change ofthe display module 10, the shape of the cushion plate 200 can be freelyand easily changed.

The embossed layer 230 is disposed on one face (or one surface) of themetal foam 220, and the water-proof layer 210 is disposed on theopposite face (or the opposite surface) of the metal foam 220.

In other words, the embossed layer 230 and the water-proof layer 210 areopposite to each other around the metal foam 220.

The metal foam 220 having the higher freedom in the shape changeincludes a body 221 and a chamfer 223 along an edge (or a periphery) ofthe body 221.

The chamfer 223 is formed on an opposite face (or an opposite surface)of the metal foam 220 where the water-proof layer 210 is disposed, andis not formed on one face (or one surface) of the metal foam 220 wherethe embossed layer 230 is disposed.

When describing based on FIGS. 5A to 5D, one face (or one surface) ofthe metal foam 220 can be defined as a top face (or a top surface or anupper surface) of the metal foam 220, and the opposite face of the metalfoam 220 can be defined as a bottom face (or a bottom surface or a lowersurface) of the metal foam 220.

Further, one face (or one surface) and the opposite face (or theopposite surface) thereto of the metal foam 220 can connect to a sideface (or a side surface) of the metal foam 220.

Therefore, the water-proof layer 210 can be disposed on the oppositeface (or the opposite surface) of the metal foam 220 to cover theopposite face (or the opposite surface) of the body 221 where thechamfer 223 is formed, and the chamfer 223.

In this case, the chamfer 223 of the metal foam 220 can be formed alongan entire edge (or an entire periphery) of the body 221.

In one example, the chamfer 223 can be formed by removing a portion ofan edge area (or a periphery area) of the body 221 so as to have aninclined face (or an inclined surface) as shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

Specifically, at least a portion of a top face (or a top surface or anupper surface) and at least a portion of a side face (or a side surface)of the body 221 can be removed. A partial area of the body 221 can beremoved so that the removed outer face (or outer surface) of the body221 is inclined.

Accordingly, the side face (or the side surface) of the body 221 can bedivided into a first side face (or a first side surface) 221 a formed asan inclined face (or an inclined surface) of the chamfer 223, and asecond side face (or a second side surface) 221 b free of the chamfer223.

The water-proof layer 210 disposed on one face (or one surface) of thebody 221 can cover one face (or one surface) of the body 221 and theinclined face (or the inclined surface) of the chamfer 223.

In other words, the water-proof layer 210 can cover the top face (or thetop surface or the upper surface) of the body 221 and the first sideface (or the first side surface) 221 a of the body 221 as shown in FIG.5A.

The water-proof layer 210 can include an organic material.

In general, the organic material has a high waterproof effect.

The organic material can include an acrylic organic material or apolyurethane-based organic material, but is not limited thereto. Theorganic material can include other organic material components.

Therefore, the water-proof layer 210 can be formed by depositing theorganic material on one face (or one surface) of the metal foam 220.

However, when the water-proof layer 210 includes the organic material,it can be difficult to form the water-proof layer 210 so as to cover aright angled side face (or a right angled side surface) such as thesecond side face (or the second side surface) 221 b in terms of aprocess.

However, because the first side face (or the first side surface) 221 aof the body 221 is inclined, the water-proof layer 210 can cover thefirst side face (or the first side surface) 221 a of the body 221 interms of the process regardless of a type of a material of thewater-proof layer 210.

Accordingly, the water-proof layer 210 covering one face (or onesurface) of the body 221 and the chamfer 223 can cover the top face (orthe top surface or the upper surface) of the body 221 and a portion ofthe side face (or the side surface) of the body 221.

Further, the water-proof layer 210 can cover the top face (or the topsurface or the upper surface) of the body 221 and the first side face(or the first side surface) 221 a and the second side face (or thesecond side surface) 221 b of the body 221 as shown in FIG. 5B.

In other words, the water-proof layer 210 can be formed to cover the topface (or the top surface or the upper surface) of the body 221 and anentire side face (or an entire side surface) of the body 221.

In this case, the water-proof layer 210 can include a material which canallow the process to easily form the water-proof layer 210 to cover theright angled side face (or the right angled side surface) such as thesecond side face (or the second side surface) 221 b.

Accordingly, the water-proof layer 210 covering one face (or onesurface) of the body 221 and the chamfer 223 thereof can cover the topface (or the top surface or the upper surface) of the body 221 and theentire side face (or the entire side surface) of the body 221.

A thickness W₂ of the chamfer 223 can be ⅔ or smaller of a thickness W₁of the body 221.

The metal foam 220 has a shock absorbing function to absorb externalshocks. Thus, when a size of the body 221 is greatly reduced, the shockabsorbing function can be reduced accordingly.

Therefore, when the thickness W₂ of the chamfer 223 formed by removingthe edge portion (or the periphery portion) of the body 221 increases,overall shock absorbing function of the metal foam 220 can be reduced.Thus, when the thickness W₂ of the chamfer 223 is smaller than or equalto ⅔ of the thickness W₁ of the body 221, the deterioration in the shockabsorbing function of the metal foam 220 can be minimized.

Further, in another example, the chamfer 223 can be obtained by removinga portion of the edge area (or the periphery area) of the body 221 so asto have a right angled face (or the right angled surface) as shown FIG.5C.

Specifically, at least a portion of the top face and at least a portionof the side face (or the side surface) of the body 221 can be removed.In this connection, a partial area of the body 221 can be removed tohave a right angled face.

In this case, the edge (or the periphery) of the body 221 can have astep due to the chamfer 223 having the right angled face.

Accordingly, the top face of the body 221 can include a first top face221 c on which the chamfer 223 is not formed, and a second top face 221d defining a horizontal face of the chamfer 223.

Further, the side face of the body 221 can be divided into the firstside face 221 a defining a right angled face of the chamfer 223 and thesecond side face 221 b free of the chamfer 223.

The first top face 221 c of the body 221 can be connected to the firstside face 221 a thereof, the first side face 221 a thereof can beconnected to the second top face 221 d thereof, and the second top face221 d thereof can be connected to the second side face 221 b thereof.

The water-proof layer 210 disposed on one face of the body 221 can coverone face of the body 221 and the right angled face of the chamfer 223.

In other words, the water-proof layer 210 can cover the top face of thebody 221 including the first top face 221 c and the second top face 221d of the body 221 and the first side face 221 a of the body 221 as shownin FIG. 5C.

In FIG. 5C, unlike the second side face 221 b, the first side face 221 aconstitutes the side face of the step connecting to the second top face221 d. Thus, even when the metal foam 220 is covered with thewater-proof layer 210 formed of the organic material, the water-prooflayer 210 can cover both the top face of the body 221 and the chamfer223 without any difficulties in the process.

Further, in another example, the chamfer 223 can be obtained by removinga portion of the edge area (or the periphery area) of the body 221 so asto have a curved face as shown in FIG. 5D.

Specifically, at least a portion of the top face and at least a portionof the side face of the body 221 can be removed. In this connection, apartial area of the body 221 can be removed to have a curved face.

Accordingly, the side face of the body 221 can be divided into the firstside face 221 a as the curved face of the chamfer 223 and the secondside face 221 b free of the chamfer 223.

In this case, the curved face can be formed to have a concave shape, andcan have a shape approximate to a step shape.

The water-proof layer 210 disposed on one face of the body 221 can coverone face of body 221 and the curved face of the chamfer 223.

That is, the water-proof layer 210 can cover the top face of the body221 and the first side face 221 a of the body 221 as shown in FIG. 5D.

In FIG. 5D, unlike the second side face 221 b, the first side face 221 adefines the curved side face having a shape approximate to a step shape.Even when the metal foam 220 is covered with the water-proof layer 210including the organic material, the water-proof layer 210 can cover boththe top face of the body 221 and the chamfer 223 without anydifficulties in the process.

As shown in FIG. 2 , each of the cushion plates 200 having the stackedstructures according to various embodiments is disposed on the rear faceof the display panel 100 when being applied to the display module 10 ofthe display device 1. In this connection, the embossed layer 230, themetal foam 220 and the water-proof layer 210 of the cushion plate 200are stacked in this order in a direction toward the rear face of thedisplay panel 100.

The front face of the metal foam 220 of the cushion plate 200 contactsthe embossed layer 230, while the rear face of the metal foam 220thereof contacts the water-proof layer 210.

Therefore, the chamfer 223 obtained by removing at least a portion ofthe rear face and at least a portion of the side face of the metal foam220 along the edge (or the periphery) of the metal foam 220 is disposedon the rear face of the body 221.

The water-proof layer 210 is disposed on the rear face of the metal foam220 to cover the rear face of the body 221 and the chamfer 223.

Because the water-proof layer 210 is disposed to cover the chamfer 223obtained by removing at least a portion of the rear face and at least aportion of the side face of the metal foam 220, the water-proof layer210 can cover the rear face of the metal foam 220 free of the chamfer223 and at least a portion of the side face of the metal foam 220 havingthe chamfer 223.

The display module 10 as described above is coupled to the rear face ofthe cover member 20, and the frame 30 is disposed on the display module10 to support the cover member 20.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged cross-sectional views when an externalforce is applied to an edge (or a periphery) of a display deviceaccording to Comparative Example and an edge (or a periphery) of thedisplay device 1 according to the embodiment, respectively.

Comparative Example according to FIG. 3A has the same stack structure asthat of the embodiment according to FIG. 3B in that the cushion plate200 is formed by sequentially stacking the embossed layer 230, the metalfoam 220, and the water-proof layer 210 in a direction toward the rearface of the display panel 100.

However, Comparative Example shown in FIG. 3A differs from theembodiment shown in FIG. 3B in that the chamfer 223 is formed along theedge (or the periphery) of the metal foam 220 in FIG. 3B while thechamfer 223 is not formed along the edge (or the periphery) of the metalfoam 220 in FIG. 3A.

The edge portion (or the periphery portion) of the display device 1 ismost vulnerable to an impact resulting from the external force.

Therefore, when a sudden impact is applied to the display device 1, theedge portion (or the periphery portion) is most vulnerable to theimpact, such that considerable damage occurs at the edge portion (or theperiphery portion) of the display device 1.

When an external force is applied to the display device 1, the impactcan be first applied to the frame 30 which constitutes an exteriorappearance of the display device 1.

When the impact applied to the frame 30 is transmitted to the internaldisplay panel 100, the display panel 100 can be damaged by the externalforce or by the impact.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cushion plate 200 disposed on therear face of the display panel 100 is disposed closer to the frame 30that houses the display module 10. In particular, an edge portion (or aperiphery portion) of the cushion plate 200 is very closer to an edgeportion (or a periphery portion) of the frame 30.

Therefore, when a sudden impact is applied to the edge portion (or theperiphery portion) of the display device 1, the impact can be directlytransmitted to the edge portion (or the periphery portion) of thecushion plate 200, and then, the impact can be transmitted to thedisplay panel 100.

When a spacing d₁ between the edge (or the periphery) of the cushionplate 200 and the frame 30 is as large as possible so that the impactapplied to the frame 30 is not transmitted to the edge of the cushionplate 200, the total thickness of the display device 1 increases.

On the contrary, in the embodiment of the present disclosure as shown inFIG. 3B, the chamfer 223 is formed along the edge (or the periphery) ofthe metal foam 220 included in the cushion plate 200, such that aspacing d₂ between the edge of the cushion plate 200 and the frame 30 ismaximized.

In particular, the spacing d₂ between the edge of the cushion plate 200most vulnerable to the impact and the frame 30 can be maximized withoutchanging a general spacing between the cushion plate 200 and the frame30.

Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, theimpact applied to the edge of the cushion plate 200 can be reduced asmuch as possible without increasing the total thickness of the displaydevice 1.

On the other hand, in Comparative Example shown in FIG. 3A, there is nochange in the shape of the metal foam 220, so that the water-proof layer210 does not cover the side face of the metal foam 220 but covers therear face of the metal foam 220.

In contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, the chamfer 223 isformed along the edge (or the periphery) of the metal foam 220, suchthat the water-proof layer 210 is disposed to cover the rear face and atleast a portion of the side face of the metal foam 220.

This will be described in detail with referring to FIGS. 7 to 9 .

FIG. 7A and FIG. 8A show a cross-sectional view and a scanning electronmicroscope (SEM) photograph of the cushion plate 200 according toComparative Example, respectively.

FIG. 7B and FIG. 8B show a cross-sectional view and a SEM photograph ofthe cushion plate 200 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure, respectively.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are SEM photographs identifying whether moisture invadesinto the pores 225 of the metal foam 220 after exposing the cushionplates 200 according to Comparative Example and according to theembodiment of the present disclosure to the same moisture environment,respectively.

As shown in FIG. 7A, in the Comparative Example, the water-proof layer210 covers the top face of the metal foam 220 but does not cover theside face of the metal foam, the moisture may not invade into the metalfoam 220 through the top face thereof but can invade into the metal foam220 through the side face thereof.

In this case, because the metal foam 220 has a porous metal structureincluding a multiple of pores 225, the moisture can invade into themultiple of pores 225.

In this regard, referring to FIG. 9A, it can be identified that a largeamount of moisture has invaded into the pores 225 of the metal foam 220according to the Comparative Example.

The cushion plate 200 includes the metal foam 220 including a multipleof pores 225, and can have a shock absorbing function that absorbsexternal shocks while a porosity thereof is maintained at a level abovea certain level.

However, when the porosity of the metal foam 220 is reduced due to theinvasion of the external moisture into the pores 225 of the metal foam220, the shock absorption function of the cushion plate 200 is greatlyreduced.

Therefore, the cushion plate 200 having the same structure as inComparative Example may not prevent the moisture from invasion into theside face of the metal foam 220, such that the shock absorbing functionof the cushion plate 200 decreases due to the moisture invasion.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the water-proof layer 210 is disposed to cover not only thetop face of the metal foam 220, but also at least a portion of the sideface thereof, thereby effectively preventing the moisture from invadingnot only into the top face but also the side face of the metal foam 220.

In this regard, referring to FIG. 9B, it can be identified that themoisture may not invade into the pores 225 of the metal foam 220according to the embodiment.

That is, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, whencovering the rear face of the body 221 of the metal foam 220 included inthe cushion plate 200 and the chamfer 223 of the metal foam 220 with thewater-proof layer 210, the moisture can invade into the cushion plate200 at a minimum level.

In particular, because the chamfer 223 is formed by removing at least aportion of the rear face of the metal foam 220 as well as at least aportion of the side face of the metal foam, the water-proof layer 210can cover the side face of the metal foam 220, such that the moistureinvasion into the side face of the cushion plate 200 can be moreeffectively reduced.

In one example, FIGS. 6A to 6C show metal foams 220 according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.

As described above, the metal foam 220 according to FIG. 6A has a porousmetal structure including a multiple of pores 225 therein.

In this case, the metal foam 220 can have a shock absorbing function dueto the pores 225 included in the metal foam 220. Thus, it is desirableto maintain a porosity in a range above a certain value in order tomaintain the impact absorption function of the metal foam 220effectively.

In one example, the metal foam 220 according to FIG. 6B shows anotherembodiment in which a heat-dissipation material 227 is included in someof the pores 225.

When the metal foam 220 includes a multiple of pores 225, a density of ametal component decreases accordingly. Thus, the shock absorptionfunction can increase, but the heat-dissipation function can decrease tosome extent.

Accordingly, the metal foam 220 according to another embodiment of FIG.6B can further include the heat-dissipation material 227 included insome of the inner pores 225.

In one example, the heat-dissipation material 227 can include a mixtureof ceramic powders, or a separate cooling material. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

The ceramic powder can include at least one among boron nitride (BN),aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), silicon carbide (SiC), magnesium oxide (MgO),aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃), and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂).However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The cooling material can include a gel-type silicone resin. However, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto.

Further, the metal foam 220 according to FIG. 6C shows anotherembodiment in which some of the inner pores 225 are waterproof-coatedwith a waterproof material 229.

As described above, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the topface and a portion of the side face of the metal foam 220 are coveredwith the water-proof layer 210, such that the moisture invasion into themetal foam 220 is prevented as much as possible.

In order to further increase the waterproof performance, waterrepellency can be additionally imparted to the metal foam by coating theinner pores 225 of the metal foam 220 with a waterproof material such asan organic material.

In this case, when a percentage of the organic material coating insidethe metal foam 220 is set to around 2%, the internal water-repellentfunction of the metal foam 220 can be maximized while minimizing thedeterioration in the shock absorbing function of the metal foam 220.

In one example, in this case, when it is desirable to maximize the innerwaterproof function of the metal foam 220, the inner pores 225 of themetal foam 220 can be fully filled with the waterproof material.

The waterproof material can include an organic material. The organicmaterial can include an acrylic organic material or a polyurethaneorganic material. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto.

Various additional components for operating the display panel 100 can bedisposed under the cushion plate 200.

The various additional components can be mounted on or connected to aconnecting part such as a flexible circuit board and can be disposed onthe rear face of the display panel 100.

For example, the flexible circuit board connected to one distal end ofthe display panel 100 can be bent from one edge area (or one peripheryarea) of the display device 1 toward the rear face of the display panel100.

Alternatively, one distal end of the display panel 100 can be benttoward the rear face of the display panel 100, so that variousadditional components can be disposed on the rear face of the displaypanel 100.

A driving integrated circuit can be disposed under the cushion plate200.

For example, the driving integrated circuit can be mounted on thedisplay substrate in a COP (Chip On Plastic) manner. However, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto.

The driving integrated circuit generates a data signal and a gatecontrol signal based on image data and a timing synchronization signalsupplied from an external host driving system. Further, the drivingintegrated circuit can supply the data signal to the data line of eachpixel through the display pad, and can supply the gate control signal tothe gate driving circuitry through the display pad.

That is, the driving integrated circuit can be mounted on a chip mountedarea defined on the display substrate and can be electrically connectedto the display pad, and can be connected to a signal line of each of agate driving circuitry and a pixel array disposed on the displaysubstrate.

The display pad can be disposed at a distal end of the display substrateon which the driving integrated circuit is mounted. A plurality ofdisplay pads can be formed.

The display pad can be disposed on the rear face of the displaysubstrate and can be electrically connected to the flexible circuitboard on which a circuit board is mounted.

The flexible circuit board can be electrically connected to the displaypad disposed at the distal end of the display substrate via a filmattaching process using a conductive adhesive layer, and thus can bedisposed on the rear face of the display panel.

In this case, the conductive adhesive layer can include ACF (AnisotropicConductive Film) by way of example.

The circuit board can supply the image data and the timingsynchronization signal supplied from the host driving system to thedriving integrated circuit, and can respectively supply voltages fordriving the pixel array, the gate driving circuitry, and the drivingintegrated circuit thereto.

The display module according to an embodiment of the present disclosureas described above can include the display panel, and the cushion platedisposed on the rear face of the display panel, and the cushion platecan include the metal foam and the water-proof layer.

In this case, the metal foam can include the body and the chamfer alongthe edge (or the periphery) of the body, and the water-proof layer canbe disposed on the rear face of the metal foam to cover the rear face ofthe body and the chamfer.

The chamfer can be disposed on the rear face of the body.

The chamfer can be formed by removing at least a portion of the rearface and at least a portion of the side face of the metal foam.

The chamfer can include at least one of an inclined face, a right angledface, and a curved face.

The chamfer can be formed along an entire circumference of the body.

A thickness of the chamfer can be smaller than or equal to two third (⅔)of a thickness of the body.

The water-proof layer can include an organic material and can cover anentire side face of the body.

A side face (or A side surface) of the body can be divided into a firstside face (or a first side surface) comprising the chamfer of the metalfoam and a second side face (or a second side surface) free of thechamfer, the water-proof layer of the cushion plate can cover only therear face (or the rear surface) of the metal foam and the first sideface (or the first side surface), but may not cover the second side face(or the second side surface).

The cushion plate can include an embossed layer. The embossed layer, themetal foam, and the water-proof layer can be sequentially stacked inthis order toward the rear face of the display panel.

The embossed layer can include a base substrate and a first adhesivelayer and a second adhesive layer can be respectively disposed on bothopposing faces of the base substrate, The first adhesive layer can havean embossed pattern, and the second adhesive layer can be coupled to themetal foam.

The metal foam can have a porous metal structure having a plurality ofpores.

The metal foam can further include a heat-dissipation material therein.

At least some of the pores can be coated with a waterproof material, andthe waterproof material includes an organic material.

The plurality of pores of the metal foam can be fully filled with thewaterproof material.

The embossed layer can have a thickness of at least 40 μm.

A thickness of the metal foam can be in a range of 20 μm to 200 μm, anda thickness of the cushion plate is in a range of 80 μm to 260 μm.

The display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosureincludes the cover member, the display module according to an embodimentof the present disclosure coupled to the rear face of the cover member,and the frame disposed on the rear face of the display module to supportthe cover member.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedin more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the presentdisclosure is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. The presentdisclosure can be implemented in various modified manners within thescope not departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure.Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are notintended to limit the technical idea of the present disclosure, but todescribe the present disclosure. The scope of the technical idea of thepresent disclosure is not limited by the embodiments. Therefore, itshould be understood that the embodiments as described above areillustrative and non-limiting in all respects. The scope of protectionof the present disclosure should be interpreted by the claims, and alltechnical ideas within the scope of the present disclosure should beinterpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

1. A display device, comprising: a display panel; a cushion plate on thedisplay panel; and a continuous foam layer that is a member of thecushion plate, the foam layer having a portion with a reduced thicknessat an outer edge of the continuous foam layer.
 2. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the portion with the reduced thickness includes aninclined surface at the outer edge of the continuous foam layer.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the continuous foam layer has a bodywith a top surface and a side surface, and wherein the outer edge is atan interface between the top surface and the side surface of the body ofthe continuous foam layer.
 4. The display device of claim 3, wherein theportion with the reduced thickness includes an inclined surface at theinterface between the top surface and the side surface.
 5. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the cushion plate further includes anadhesive layer on at least part of the portion with the reducedthickness of the continuous foam layer.
 6. The display device of claim1, wherein the portion with the reduced thickness corresponds to aninclined surface, a vertical or horizontal surface, or a curved surfacerelative to a body of the continuous foam layer.
 7. The display panel ofclaim 1, wherein the cushion plate further includes an adhesive layer onat least a portion of a top surface of the continuous foam layercorresponding to the portion with the reduced thickness.
 8. The displaypanel of claim 1, wherein the foam layer is a metal foam layer.
 9. Adisplay device, comprising: a display panel; and a cushion plate on thedisplay panel, wherein the cushion plate includes a foam layer having arecessed surface relative to a body of the foam layer.
 10. The displaydevice of claim 9, wherein the cushion plate further includes anadhesive layer corresponding to the recessed surface.
 11. The displaydevice of claim 9, wherein the recessed surface is at an outer edge ofthe body of the foam layer.
 12. The display device of claim 9, whereinthe recessed surface includes a portion of a top surface of the body ofthe foam layer and a portion of a side surface of the body of the foamlayer.
 13. The display device of claim 9, wherein the cushion platefurther includes an adhesive layer on the portion of the top surface.14. The display device of claim 9, wherein a thickness of the recessedsurface is ⅔ or less than a thickness of the body of the foam layer. 15.The display device of claim 9, wherein the foam layer s a metal foamlayer.
 16. A display device, comprising: a display panel; and a cushionplate on the display panel, the cushion plate including: a foam layer,the foam layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side surface,and an inclined surface; and a layer on at least a portion of theinclined surface.
 17. The display device of claim 16, wherein theinclined surface of the foam layer corresponds to a portion of the foamlayer having a reduced thickness at an outer edge of the foam layer. 18.The display device of claim 17, wherein the outer edge is between thetop surface and the side surface or between the side surface and thebottom surface.
 19. The display device of claim 14, wherein the inclinedsurface of the foam layer is a recessed surface relative to the topsurface, and wherein the layer is an adhesive layer.
 20. The displaydevice of claim 17, wherein the recessed surface is a curved surface.21. The display device of claim 14, wherein the inclined surface is achamfered surface.
 22. The display device of claim 14, wherein the layeris on an entirety of the inclined surface of the foam layer.
 23. Adisplay device, comprising: a display panel; a cushion plate on thedisplay panel, the cushion plate including a foam layer; and a casecoupled to the display panel and the cushion plate, wherein a firstdistance between a first portion of the case and a first portion of thefoam layer is greater than a second distance between a second portion ofthe case and a second portion of the foam layer.
 24. The display deviceof claim 23, wherein at least one of the first portion and the secondportion of the foam layer is an outer edge of the foam layer.
 25. Thedisplay device of claim 23, further comprising: an embossed layerbetween the foam layer and the display panel.
 26. The display device ofclaim 25, wherein the embossed layer includes at least one adhesivelayer.
 27. The display device of claim 25, wherein the embossed layer isdisposed on the foam layer and follows a contour of the foam layer. 28.The display device of claim 25, wherein the embossed layer includes abase substrate, a first adhesive layer, and a second adhesive layer. 29.The display device of claim 28, wherein the first adhesive layer and thesecond adhesive layer are arranged on opposite faces of the basesubstrate.
 30. The display device of claim 25, wherein the embossedlayer has an embossed pattern with an uneven surface.
 31. The displaydevice of claim 25, wherein the embossed layer has an embossed patternwith a plurality of protrusions.
 32. The display device of claim 23,wherein the display panel includes a back plate, the display devicefurther comprising: an embossed layer in contact with the back plate.33. The display device of claim 23, further comprising: a cover on thedisplay panel; and an adhesive layer between the cover and the displaypanel.
 34. The display device of claim 23, further comprising: aprotection layer on the foam layer.
 35. The display device of claim 34,wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion of thefoam layer is an inclined surface of the foam layer, and wherein theprotection layer overlaps the inclined surface of the foam layer. 36.The display device of claim 23, further comprising: a polarizing filmbetween the display panel and the cushion plate.
 37. The display deviceof claim 23, wherein at least one of the first portion and the secondportion of the foam layer corresponds to a chamfered surface of the foamlayer.